Brochure «The hate speech in hippos»
The brochure «The hate speech in hippos» was published in Belarus. The publication uses simple and understandable examples to describe the types of «hate speech» (HS) with comments provided by a lawyer and a sociologist.
The narration in the pamphlet begins with «Hippos are not animals, they are not beasts!» which makes «the blood in the hippo’s veins boil with resentment and indignation».
The comic booklet plot goes on to recount the twists and turns of the hippo-hippopotamus feud, which escalates dramatically into a violent conflict. The authors draw an analogy between the cloven-hoofed mammals that start a feud and the relationship between humans who discriminate against others on the basis of insignificant differences.
The tale’s authors Violetta Ermakova and Aleh Razhkou, journalists and international experts in the field of hate speech, call for confronting the HS without resorting to legal prohibitions.
«The hate speech in hippos» answers the questions answers the questions «Can hate speech just be banned?», «Why should I react to hate speech?», «What can I do?».
Aleh Razhkou, leader of the human rights initiative «Journalists for Tolerance», stresses: «Hate speech is a complex, wide concept which is approached differently by sociologists, human rights activists and lawyers. There are many definitions of what it is, and none of them is universal. In this brochure we have tried to combine several approaches, using vivid examples, so that everyone can form their own opinion of what ‘hate speech’ is and why it is dangerous for society.»
The brochure will be useful for journalists and bloggers when writing texts. Activists will learn how to respond to and stop verbal aggression. Lawyers will be interested to know where the line should be drawn for restricting freedom of speech.
